Pride protesters concocted an attempt to exercise their 'right of way' through the Gay Village in a bid to disrupt the Big Weekend celebrations, according to a Manchester councillor.

His statements come after a 25-year-old was arrested on Saturday night at the junction of Sackville St and Whitworth Street after trying to exercise what he believed was his 'right of way'. He was released without charge the following morning.

Councillor Kevin Peel said: “It is clear that this isn’t an argument about money or access, it is simply the latest in a long line of attempts to disrupt Pride by a small and unrepresentative group of protesters who should put their time and energy into working constructively to ensure Pride is as successful as possible and raises even more vital money for local LGBT organisations.

"Pride means different things to different people. For me it is a reminder of how far we have come and a chance to raise awareness about what we have left to do.

“For some it is a protest, for others a party. Everyone should be allowed to celebrate Pride in their own way as long as they are respectful of others.

“Unfortunately a small minority of protesters seem to want to disrupt the festivities and put at risk the vital money raised by Manchester Pride for fantastic LGBT causes here in Greater Manchester."

Confusion over the issue of right of way caused disruption at the gates, where some protesters were allowed into the site as others were turned away.

Lankyskin Smith, who claims to have been let into the festival on 'right of way' grounds without a pass, said: "I've walked in a couple of times with no grief, but that was luck, coupled with confidence.

"But last night we got a police escort in, to ensure our safety and were then left alone. I've witnessed others denied entry, though I didn't intervene because I didn't feel their intentions were genuine..."

Pride organisers had released a statement on Friday that said a traffic order was granted enabling access only to those with a wristband accreditation or resident and visitor pass.

Video of Manchester Pride 2014 Right of Way blocked Gate Number 1 Part 1

Chief Executive of Pride Mark Fletcher said at the time: “We can verify that consent for a traffic order was granted – just as in previous years when the order has been in place – and it enables access to the event for those with a wrist band, accreditation or resident and visitor pass.

"This enables us to manage the event properly and comply with health and safety guidance for large events."

However, it was reported on the protest group’s Facebook page that members of the group were given access to the site, although they were restricted from entering a majority of the bars and the main stage.

Group co-founder of Facts About Manchester Pride (FAMP) Group Geoff Stafford said: "It's about being able to walk down the public streets and visit certain businesses that some of us enjoy all year round, if they are willing.

"Some of them don't support the current Pride set up. And it's about basic rights and freedoms.”

"I have offered to facilitate a meeting between the protestors and the Pride board, and I think the protestors should drop this pointless publicity stunt to ensure that Pride continues to be a hugely successful event," he said in a statement ahead of the weekend.

Thousands gathered to celebrate Pride over the weekend, and to watch acts such as Anastacia, Pixie Lott and Misha B.

“There were dozens of free and low cost events as part of the Pride Fringe and of course the Parade is also free to enjoy by all,” Councillor Peel said.

“Those who cannot afford a full cost ticket to the Big Weekend could also have applied for a £5 ticket from Pride’s new hardship fund."

Police have confirmed that only eight arrests were made over the four days.

Video of Manchester Pride 2014 Right of way blocked Gate Number 1 Part 2

Video of Manchester Pride 2014 Right of Way blocked Gate Number 1 part 3

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Comments

Occasional Councillor "Make Sure You Get My Good Side" Peel talks a lot of nonsense, and refuses to engage. I attempted to respond to his comments on http://citycentrelabour.org.uk/councillors-statement-on-manchester-pride/ but it went into "moderation" and never appeared as a comment. Then I attempted to post on the City Centre Voice facebook page, and my comment was deleted. This is how Councillor Peel deals with people, but it's nothing new. Thank God he's not my Councillor.

It is my understanding that no disruption was ever intended, the protestors were merely exercising their civil rights and were prevented from doing so. Had access to the public highway by pedestrians been facilitated by the private security company then there would have been no disruption or arrest . We relinquish our civil rights at our peril, it would set a dangerous precedent were we to hand over control of who goes where due to our financial standing to private security companies . There are many in these times of austerity who through no fault of their own are unwaged, ( the unemployed , the sick , the disabled , the elderly, those who have been "sanctioned") to whom £27 is a great deal of money for the privilege to walk a public footpath. I thought that the PRIDE festival was a community event which was an inclusive festival by charging this outrageous amount it makes it exclusive to those in need, the 300 day tickets made available by Manchester Pride for those in NEED is an insult , there are many thousands who could not afford to attend . The amount raised for charities from the sale of wristbands is neglible allegedly last year no profit was made and the only amounts donated to charities were taken from reserves from previous years .

Nothing but daft rhetoric from councillors in a city that is a one party state with no real democracy and now apparently doesn't even respect the rule of law.They're well aware that people have campaigned against the fences for the last nine years and that this is the latest step in challenging them. It wasn't about seeing the entertainment for free. Don't believe the media spin.The Manchester Pride Big Weekend is the complete opposite of what it should be about. Freedom? Celebrating rights? Including all members of the LGBTQ community? And above all raising a significant amount for charity, which is primarly why it was started (and some of us were around back then).Laughable that these are the sort kind of individuals who tend to talk endlessly about the Stonewall Riots or Harvey Milk and use those for their own ends and PR. You can bet that if Councillors Karney, Peel and certain business people had been around in Greenwich Village in 1969 they would have been backed the police, criticised the attack on a business and demonised those who were involved.Talk with some of the businesses that have been "visited" by certain individuals over the weekend and badgered until they agreed to prevent people from being able to walk along the street. Which was their legal right! Do you feel "proud" about that?Glad to say, no one has any interest in a riot in the Manchester gay village. This was people attempting to walk along a street, which they were legally entitled to do.Twitter away briefing the media with your soundbites as much as you like Pat and Kevin. The obstructions that occurred were criminal offences and officers of GMP stood by and watched while those offences were committed.It's all on video and on the grapevine we've heard what your strategy is going to be to try and defend what happened (gay Manchester leaks like a sieve if you didn't know). Frankly, we don't think it will stand up.Manchester Pride is a limited company as well as a registered charity (god help us). This is not about preventing future events on August Bank Holiday, it's about changing what happens on that date for the better. The latest tactic is to claim we won't engage. Personally I have a list as long of my arm, of letters, emails (often unanswered), meetings, radio discussions and there's any amount of evidence to back it up. There's even a photo of one of the three times I met the chief executive of Marketing Manchester who is the former chair of Manchester Pride.After 11 years of trying every avenue (and by the way WE have never committed a criminal offence as far as I am aware and I hope not) it's clear that those who control Manchester Pride will never voluntarily make the changes that are necessary. One person has been on the board of trustees since 2004! Most LGBT people in Greater Manchester don't go to Manchester Pride.

Sad to see that once again the likes of Peel and Karney hijack a perfectly legal walk, in order to push their own neo-liberal business-friendly money-driven agenda. These Councillors are not our friends, they do not represent the interests of the poor and marginalised.

" a 25-year-old was arrested on Saturday night at the junction of Sackville St and Whitworth Street after trying to exercise what he believed was his 'right of way'. He was released without charge the following morning."Interesting that the security staff, the police and the mancunian matters all assumed that the person self-identified as male. Near pride. Everyone involved really needs to check their cis-privellege.

**** CLARIFICATION: MM have not made any assumptions on this. We were told by police that a 25-year-old male was arrested. We are therefore obliged to refer to him as such and we believe it would be wrong for us to make any assumptions otherwise. ****

When you hear that businesses were bullied into signing a document stating they'd agree to not let anyone in without a wristband or proper Pride accreditation.
When you hear that staff from FGH Security were giving a number of reasons to people for preventing access such as an injunction order has been obtained.
When people assume that your actions are just disruptive antics and nothing more than a nuisance.
When the organisers refuse to answer questions about issues raised.
When more was paid to the full time staff, the Council and the Police than was donated to charity.
When Councillor Peel presumes to have an opinion when he himself was nowhere near Manchester this weekend. When he has the nerve to retreat the Village Business Association saying that Manchester's Gay Village "welcomes you all year round" - except for four days a year when you are expected to fund a event that's made a loss for the last two years.
When is it going to change? Who presumed that Manchester Pride Limited would be running an event in 2015 and started to sell tickets at 9am the Tuesday after Pride?
When a charity donation figure is released, take £15k from that as monies raised before the Big Weekend.

I'd love to know how anyone's pride was spoiled due to the actions of these few campaigners. The only people it impacted were the security guards, seeing as the Police just stood around doing fanny all.

Some of us already started one back in the late 1980s and this is it. Why should we start another one? It doesn't belong to you.Please let us know when the public was consulted about changing the name to "pride" in 2003 or about the downgrading of the charity fundraising by an unelected board and a handful of vested-interest business people, some of whom also sat on the board?Fact is: the LGBTQ public never were consulted. This whole thing is illegitimate. Only a minority of the LGBTQ people in Great Manchester go to it.

I feel the protests were damaging to a serious message about the question, where does this money go. Rich of Peel to talk though, he was in Florence for the weekend. He gets involved to make sure he wins votes by getting involved in the story. If he cared so much about Manchester he would actually be in it far more instead of chasing votes from colleagues out of Manchester. I am glad people had a good weekend but one success does not take away from the fact there are lots of questions about the Gay Village and how it can do better. It won't if leaders demonise any critics.

The fact is we're been asking questions about where the money goes for years and with very limited success . For example there is an amount of just over £11,000 of charity funds that was destined to go to the Village Business Association (charity money to businesses!) in 2011 to pay for "decorative arches" on Canal Street. After we raised the issue the money wasn't given out and is mentioned on the following year's accounts as historic funds that will be distributed. Then the amount seems to disappear and Pride won't say where it went or is. Most recently I politely posed it as a question on the CityLife Facebook Q&A with Pride boss Mark Fletcher. He just ignored it. By the way, next thing the Pride chair was on the "We Love Manchester Pride" group claiming that I won't engage!We wonder if the £11,000 formed part of the announced charity amount last year? If so the same money would have been announced as charity funds in two separate years. We would love to know where it is or went. Perhaps someone from Manchester Pride could post here and finally tell us?

My question to Manchester pride is quite simple, why did you lie to the police and sercurity about the event being a "private party?" Where is the letter that you said EVERY business inside the fences had signed saying as such and because of that they will not allow us in. I'd like to see exactly where the take aways had signed, as i have it on tape me being denied access to go to Mc Tuckey's. As such i think my rights have been violated by Manchester pride.

Manchester pride have known about the right of way for many years but still conned people into paying . the department of transport states that it is illegal to block entry to pedestrians , but still they did as seen in the video clips . why does Manchester pride think they are above the law ? questions need to be answered and Manchester pride need to be more transparant and open with the community they profess to serve. If they want to become an events company then fine , do so , but please dont hide behind a charity status that raises nothing for charity.

It is my legal right to access thes streets. Pride do not own the streets. They cannot block access to the streets. They can have an event, they can have bars agree to restrict access to people (if the bars agree), but they can NOT hire security staff to stop me walking down certain streets.

I walked into the area, via Gate 1, on Sunday at approx 2.30am. I expressed my legal right of way, and was initially refused entry. Then a security staff member offered to 'escort' me to Napoleons (which he eventually admitted, after initially telling me that ALL the bars were restricting access to wristband buyers, was admitting people). I went with him, EVEN THOUGH I did not NEED to be escorted.

The Pride organisers LIED to the public when saying they needed to buy wristbands to access the area. PAT KARNEY LIED on television when he said people HAD to be 'escorted' across the area if they wished to access streets. I simply wanted to access my LEGAL RIGHT OF WAY, and have a drink in a bar that wasn't restricting people.

IF the organisers had been HONEST, and told people that wristbands only needed to be purchased in order to access restricted areas, then I am certain there wouldn't have been all this fuss. But now, due to their LIES, they have been shown to be attempting to trick people into purchasing wristbands.

Are none of the protesters planning to sue the security company for obstructing them on a public highway? Each protester on video being denied entry without payment has a claim for compensation. The security company are the tortfeasors in this instance.

Further, isn't the man arrested going to sue for wrongful arrest and imprisonment? You can get £500 an hour (on a decreasing scale) for every hour you wrongfully are detained in a police cell.

How about an injunction against Manchester Pride Limited to stop them holding the event next year on the grounds that they say it cannot be held safely or profitably without setting up a private toll.

A judicial review could also be requested on the council's decision to allow Manchester Pride to hold the event in 2015.

The police are not interested in upholding the law they are only interested in having an easy job so don't rely on them to help you.

Everyone in the video being denied entry has a cause of action against both FMG, MCC and the Police.

No agreements were signed with any of the bars to hold private parties. I know this for a fact. On Friday afternoon the VBA came around with their hurridly printed posters and just asked whoever was working in the bar at the time whether it was bar supervisor, manager or owner, if it was ok if they put up the posters. No agreements were signed.

Even if agreements were signed, that doesn't mean the right of way is suspended. You have the right to go in and have a walk around any street at any time, you don't need to give some private individual a reason, nor the police.

Someone needs to get this stuff in front of a Judge.

As soon as you do that you'll get a binding ruling that no-one, not even the police, can ignore.

If you had turned up at the gates with a court order the police would have had no choice but to act or the Judge that issued the order would have dragged them into their court room to explain their actions.

The police, the department for transport, the council, the newspapers, none of them will help us in this fight. Only a Judge will help us.

I know one person has been advised by his solicitor today that he has a case. Video evidence has been viewed.On Monday a proposed claim for judicial review was issued to Manchester City Council and Greater Manchester Police. I have now received a copy.

Please can you create a hotmail account or something where I can email you some comments and advice about the judicial review. You don't have to post your public email on here but if you can create one and post it on here I would like to email you about it but without revealing my email address.

I realise that its easy to be an armchair solicitor but I have a great deal of experience in these matters.

Michael you need to ask Geoff who instigated the judicial review because I guarantee it wasn't him. Geoff is a keyboard warrior and when it comes to actually getting things done he shies away. While he's happy to take the credit he doesn't actually do anything useful. Moaning isn't useful.

"Concocted" its always been peoples right of way nothing concocted about it We all know what position our gay councillors take namely Pat Carney Kevin Peel and Carl Austin. If people want the pop concert element to pride that's fair enough hold it in a park and get the bars to lay on free busses back into the village if they are scared of loosing out on sales and price it accordingly. They could bring the fair back onto the NCP car park which would generate income rather than a cost and let all the rest into the village they go to all year round get in for free or for a small donation which would help pay for the Sackville stage area with anything left over going to charity

I know there is a petition to meet with pride and all things like that but if you really want to stop this happening again getting a Judgment or Order is, in my opinion, the only way to stop it successfully.

We've set up an email address for this campaign. Advice and help will be welcome along with any personal accounts of trying to get access over the weekend: pride2014 (at) factsmcr (dot) com. We've also published the text of the proposed claim for judicial review that has gone to GMP and MCC. I am not the claimant by the way. I'll link that on the update page at the factsmcr (dot) com website.

I'm feeling a little disgusted with some peoples attitude, I tell you what, let's scrap the wristbands, let make it free for all to come in the village, let's ruin the weekend for us gays, and let's stop the hard work that pride does for the charities that's help us.

This is a means to an end, and the end is to ruin it for everyone. My personal view is it's just a loop hole to ruin life for us gays, Thank you very much protestor, if you want to protest about some useful, protest about fracking, if you spent as much effort on this subject, we might have stopped it.

No more than between ZERO and 12% of the money taken has actually ever gone to charities. Marketing Manchester is NOT a charity, nor is the council. In 2007 the Charity Commission clearly stated "THE PRIDE EVENTS ARE NOT CHARITABLE FUNDRAISING EVENT, THEY ARE EVENTS ORGANISED BY MARKETING MANCHESTER"

What a great idea Tom Archer, it works for the Chinese at their new year celebrations. They have no wrist bands, no barriers stopping the public going about their business, top world class entertainment on show in the car park for free and a lovely all inclusive atmosphere open to all. Why should the gays be treated differently?

Councillor Kevin Peel said: “It is clear that this isn’t an argument about money or access, it is simply the latest in a long line of attempts to disrupt Pride by a small and unrepresentative group " News for you Kevin: you are wrong. I'm not part of that group and organisers of Pride are out of order by preventing me from entering the village. That bothers me. They have no right to stop me from going into the village, yet they instruct people to do exactly that. I sincerely hope there are repercussions of the way they've tricked the public into paying to get into a public area for several years.

Tom Archer "...and let's stop the hard work that pride does for the charities that's help us"What work for charities? No more than between ZERO and 12% of the money taken has actually ever gone to charities. Marketing Manchester is NOT a charity, nor is the council. In 2007 the Charity Commission clearly stated "THE PRIDE EVENTS ARE NOT CHARITABLE FUNDRAISING EVENT, THEY ARE EVENTS ORGANISED BY MARKETING MANCHESTER"